November 6, 2025
Student Housing Nova Scotia and Other Sector Leaders Weigh In
HALIFAX, NS — On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne tabled the 2025 federal budget, which focuses on delivering a generational investment in Canada’s economy.
Student Housing Nova Scotia welcomes the federal government’s renewed focus on non-market housing in Budget 2025, including the $13 billion commitment through Build Canada Homes. This commitment reflects the urgency of Canada’s housing crisis and recognizes the essential role of not-for-profit, mission-driven housing providers in delivering long-term affordability.
“In this budget, the federal government has shown that they are prepared to make meaningful investments in housing,” said Mitchell Archibald, Executive Director of Student Housing Nova Scotia. “By placing a significant priority on non-market housing, this investment has the potential to be truly transformative for this and future generations”
“Expanding non-market housing is critical to ensuring safe, secure, and affordable homes for current and future generations,” said Archibald. “Students in Nova Scotia already face some of the highest levels of rental inflation and student debt in the country. Housing is not only a basic necessity, but a key determinant of academic success, economic mobility, and long-term prosperity.”
Student Housing Nova Scotia echoes national calls for clear outcome-based targets, expansion of deeply affordable units, and continued protection of existing affordable rentals. We call on the Government of Canada to implement the recommendations in the National Housing Council’s report, Scaling-Up the Non-Market Housing Sector in Canada, which include:
- Committing to annual targets for the construction or acquisition of non-market housing.
- Providing more grants, forgivable loans and lower-interest loans to non-market housing providers as part of the funding mix.
- Prioritizing non-market housing providers in programs that support both market and non-market housing.
- Supporting growth of the non-market housing sector to reach the OECD average of 7% of the housing system.
“The non-profit housing sector has the expertise and proven ability to create housing that remains affordable in the long-term,” said Trish McCourt, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Non-Profit Housing Association. “We know that non-market housing leads to significant improvements in the health, education, employment, and overall well-being of residents. This not only has a positive impact for tenants, but also for local communities and economies.”
“Public, private, and non-profit sectors all have an important role to play in building a stronger Canada,” said Archibald, “and investing in non-market housing is the best way to maximize the value of this significant public investment, and ensure that Canadians are the ultimate beneficiaries for generations to come.”
“We are encouraged to see that Budget 2025 includes investments that support students and youth through expanded training and employment programs,” said Wasiimah Joomun, Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. “However, students are concerned about the absence of student housing from the new housing strategy, particularly when affordable housing is a major priority for students, including those living in Nova Scotia.”
Earlier this year, the federal government committed to investing $2 billion dollars in housing for seniors and students. To ensure affordability and value for money, Student Housing Nova Scotia encourages all levels of governments to prioritize funding to non-profit student housing models that meet diverse needs of students and deliver long-term affordability. Non-profit student housing eases pressure on the wider rental market and reflects what students consistently tell us they want: affordable and student-focused housing located near where they study and work, that reflects the diverse needs and preferences of students.
Student Housing Nova Scotia is ready to work with all orders of government, Build Canada Homes, and post-secondary institutions to deliver urgently needed housing to students in our province. We look forward to further detail on implementation timelines, eligibility, and partnership pathways for non-market student housing projects, and we stand ready to help translate federal commitments into real housing solutions for students across Nova Scotia.
Established in 1965, Student Housing Nova Scotia is a non-profit organization that develops, provides, and advocates for housing that meets the needs of post-secondary students in Nova Scotia. We build, acquire, and operate low-cost housing for students, and strive to create an environment that supports academic and personal success. We also lead and support research, programs, and initiatives which address the housing needs of students.